Bob Downer wonders why the U of I athletic department brought back a man at the center of earlier allegations.

Nov. 13, 2012

Peter Gray / Press-Citizen

Written by

Tara Bannow

Iowa City Press-Citizen

U of I athletes talk about Gray

IOWA CITY, Ia. — Hawkeye men’s tennis player Garret Dunn was among the many student-athletes who knew Peter Gray in his time at the University of Iowa. Student-athletes tend to congregate in the Gerdin Athletic Learning Center to study, and it was common for Gray, an academic adviser, to emerge from his office, walk around the room and be “overly friendly” with students — rubbing their shoulders and patting their backs, said Dunn, chairman of the Iowa Student Athlete Advisory Committee. “There was kind of inappropriate touching with students, and I guess that’s one thing some people did kind of notice and complain about,” Dunn said. Dunn said rumors floated among student-athletes about Gray’s personal life, but Dunn said he never personally experienced any offensive behavior by Gray. In fact, he said, Gray was friendly and helpful when it came to selecting classes. “I think that’s why everyone was kind of shocked to hear this news when it happened,” he said. Likewise, Quillan Oak, a member of the men’s swimming team, wrote in an email to the Press-Citizen that working with Gray was a normal, comfortable experience. “Never did I feel uncomfortable around him,” Oak said in the email. “Every weekly meeting I had with him, he would always tell me how proud he was of me because of my accomplishments and my future aspirations and goals. I believe Pete is a good man, who is just stuck in the wrong place.” Swimmer Donny Warren said in an email to the Press-Citizen that in the two years Gray has served as his academic adviser, his professional manner has been unparalleled. “Because of his impact on my undergraduate career, I am on track with my life goals and am in debt to his generosity,” Warren said in the email. “I respect Pete Gray as a friend, a counselor, and an idol.” — Tara Bannow and Josh O’Leary, Iowa City Press-Citizen

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IOWA CITY, IA. — Sexual harassment allegations against a former academic adviser in the University of Iowa athletic department are “very concerning on numerous levels,” a member of the state Board of Regents said Monday.

Regent Bob Downer said the most significant question raised by an internal university investigation is: Why did the U of I rehire Peter Gray in 2002 after co-workers had observed misconduct during his first stint at the university, between 1993 and 1995?

Gray was allowed to resign last week from his post as associate director of Athletic Student Services, despite a university investigation dated Oct. 24 that detailed a long list of allegations of inappropriate behavior.

“If there were difficulties in connection with his first employment, why was he rehired?” Downer said of Gray.

Downer — who served on a regents committee in 2007 that worked with a law firm to investigate the university’s handling of a sexual assault allegation — said he doubts this case will lead to an independent investigation into the university’s handling of the situation, but he doesn’t rule it out.

Regents President Craig Lang declined to comment.

Downer also questioned whether the incident could signal a pattern of insufficient background checks in the university’s hiring process.

The U of I’s internal investigative report, obtained by the Iowa City Press-Citizen, accused Gray of trading football tickets and money to a person in exchange for sexual favors and touching a student’s genitals. The report also said that Gray had been observed by co-workers for years touching student-athletes in an unprofessional manner.

Gray also was found to have inappropriate photographs stored on his work computer, including two that involved individuals engaged in sex acts with toys or stuffed animals, numerous pictures of college-aged people posing in swimsuits and a few of people dressed in underwear, according to the report.

The investigation found that Gray’s supervisor acknowledged receiving reports from staff, coaches and at least one student-athlete about Gray’s misconduct. The report does not name the supervisor, but Fred Mims, associate athletic director for student services and compliance, oversees student-athlete advising and counseling operations, according to an organizational chart for the athletic department provided by the university.

Mims answers to athletic director Gary Barta.

Mims, Barta and other university officials are not answering questions about Gray — calling his departure a confidential personnel issue. They also have not explained why Gray was not terminated and was instead allowed to resign Nov. 5, almost two weeks after internal investigators determined he had violated the university’s sexual harassment policy.

Under the university’s sexual harassment policy, if a formal investigation finds a violation — as was the case with Gray — the matter is then referred to the appropriate administrator, who discusses the findings with the U of I’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity to determine “appropriate corrective measures and sanctions.” Disciplinary sanctions can include termination.

“Sanctions for violations of this policy should be commensurate with the nature of the violation and the respondent’s disciplinary history,” the university’s sexual harassment policy states. “Those who violate the policy should bear the consequences of their actions, even if factors such as substance abuse or personal problems contribute to misconduct.”

N. William Hines, chairman of the U of I’s Presidential Committee on Athletics, which advises university President Sally Mason and Barta on Big Ten Conference and NCAA policies, said Monday he had “no idea” what action the committee might take.

“We’ve never had this experience before,” Hines said. “We’re just kind of feeling our way.”

It’s unlikely the committee will launch its own investigation , Hines said, although a follow-up into the athletic department’s internal handling of the matter is possible.

“As more becomes known about Mr. Gray’s alleged unprofessional conduct in dealing directly with Iowa student-athletes, the possibility exists that PCA may look into the matter,” Hines said.

While university police say they are not investigating Gray, a university detective visited the Gerdin Academic Learning Center Oct. 8 to look into a report of improper use of complimentary tickets by athletics staff, according to a report released Monday.